Tottenham Hotspur will aim to maintain their winning momentum when they travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium in their Premier League clash on Sunday. Having secured five consecutive wins following their North London derby defeat to Arsenal, Ange Postecoglou’s side is in top form. They head into the match off the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros in the Europa League, while Brighton is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
Tottenham’s performance in Europe wasn’t without its challenges. Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced team, Postecoglou’s side showed resilience to overcome Ferencvaros. Pape Sarr and Brennan Johnson were the heroes for Spurs, with the latter continuing his excellent form by finding the net once again. Although Barnabas Varga pulled one back for the Hungarian side late in the game, Tottenham managed to hold on to secure a vital win.
Now returning to domestic action, Spurs will be looking to continue their strong run in the Premier League. Recent victories over Brentford (3-1) and Manchester United (3-0) have seen them climb up the table, moving into eighth place. The convincing win against United was particularly impressive, with Spurs dominating the match even before Bruno Fernandes’ controversial red card. However, Tottenham’s away form under Postecoglou has been inconsistent, and they will need to improve on that front if they are to come away with all three points against Brighton.
On the other hand, Brighton’s recent form has been a mixed bag. Fabian Hurzeler’s team started their clash with Chelsea brightly, taking an early lead through Georginio Rutter. However, they were soon undone by a remarkable individual performance from Cole Palmer, who scored four goals in the first half to seal Chelsea’s victory. Despite a consolation goal from Carlos Baleba, Brighton was left to rue costly defensive mistakes.
This defeat marked Hurzeler’s first loss since taking charge of the Seagulls, but his side remains competitive in the league. They sit just one point behind Tottenham in ninth place, and a win at home could see them leapfrog their opponents. Brighton’s commitment to attacking football has been evident this season, with the team scoring and conceding multiple goals in each of their last three matches. However, they have only managed two wins in their last eight Premier League games at the Amex, and recent draws against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest have raised concerns about their ability to close out games.
Brighton’s recent history against Tottenham has been relatively even, with the two sides exchanging victories last season. Brighton won the corresponding fixture 4-2 at the Amex, but Tottenham responded with a 2-1 triumph at home in February. Interestingly, none of the last 13 meetings between the two teams have ended in a draw, so fans can expect another closely contested encounter this time around.
Team news plays a significant role in shaping this match, with both sides dealing with injuries to key players. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min and left-back Destiny Udogie were absent from the midweek trip to Hungary due to injury concerns. While Udogie is expected to recover in time for Sunday’s game, Son remains a doubt, and his absence would be a significant blow to Spurs. In his place, Timo Werner may continue to lead the line, though there are calls for Postecoglou to hand 17-year-old Mikey Moore a starting role after his impressive performance against Ferencvaros.
Tottenham also have several other injury concerns to contend with. Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remain sidelined, while Dominic Solanke is expected to start up front after earning a recall to the England national team. On the defensive side, Radu Dragusin returns from a European suspension, but Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have formed a strong partnership at the back and are unlikely to be displaced.
Brighton, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of several players. James Milner, Brajan Gruda, and Joel Veltman could all return to action after missing recent games, while Solly March remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury. Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley are also set to miss out due to ankle issues, and Simon Adingra faces a race against time to be fit for the bench.
Despite their injury woes, Brighton has plenty of talent in their squad to trouble Tottenham. Carlos Baleba made history in the loss to Chelsea, becoming the youngest Cameroonian to score and assist in a Premier League match. The 20-year-old will once again partner Jack Hinshelwood in midfield, while Rutter, Danny Welbeck, and Kaoru Mitoma are expected to lead the line in attack.
This match promises to be an intriguing tactical battle. Both teams favor an attacking style of play, with Brighton’s high-tempo pressing game likely to test Tottenham’s defense. Spurs, on the other hand, will look to exploit the spaces left by Brighton’s forward-thinking approach, with Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski providing pace and creativity on the wings. The return of James Maddison in midfield will also be crucial for Tottenham, as his ability to unlock defenses with his passing and vision could prove decisive.
In defense, Tottenham’s backline has been solid in recent weeks, and Romero and Van de Ven have formed a reliable partnership at the heart of the defense. Udogie’s potential return at left-back will provide added stability, while Pedro Porro’s attacking prowess from right-back could give Brighton problems down their left flank.
For Brighton, the key will be maintaining their defensive shape and avoiding the kind of individual errors that cost them against Chelsea. Lewis Dunk will marshal the defense alongside Igor Julio, and they will need to be at their best to contain Tottenham’s attacking threats. Pervis Estupinan’s overlapping runs from left-back could be a valuable outlet for Brighton going forward, but he will need to be cautious not to leave too much space behind for Spurs to exploit.
Overall, this match could go either way, with both teams capable of scoring goals and creating chances. Tottenham’s recent form gives them a slight edge, but Brighton’s home advantage and attacking firepower mean they should not be underestimated. The result could come down to which team takes their chances and avoids defensive lapses, and with both sides pushing for European places, the stakes are high.
Brighton’s fans will be hoping that their team can bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment and secure a morale-boosting victory, while Tottenham will be looking to continue their winning streak and build momentum as they aim to climb further up the table. With both teams evenly matched on paper, this could be one of the most entertaining fixtures of the weekend, and fans can expect plenty of goals and drama at the Amex Stadium.
Possible lineups for the match reflect the current injury concerns and tactical setups of both teams. Brighton is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Bart Verbruggen in goal, Veltman, Dunk, Igor, and Estupinan forming the backline. In midfield, Baleba and Hinshelwood will partner with Julio Enciso, while the front three will likely consist of Rutter, Welbeck, and Mitoma.
Tottenham, meanwhile, could opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, and Udogie in defense. In midfield, Maddison will pull the strings alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, while Johnson, Solanke, and Werner form the attacking trio in front of them.
In conclusion, this match between Brighton and Tottenham is shaping up to be an exciting contest between two attacking sides. Both teams have injury concerns, but they also possess enough quality to make this a competitive fixture. Tottenham’s recent winning streak gives them a slight advantage, but Brighton’s home form and attacking flair mean they cannot be ruled out. As always in the Premier League, anything can happen, and fans will be eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling encounter at the Amex.
